Busta Rhymes facing assault allegations in New York; investigation continues
Busta Rhymes is now confronted with an assault charge in New York, with a court appearance on the horizon.
As reported by YSL News on Thursday, a spokesperson from the New York Police Department stated that the 52-year-old rapper, whose real name is Trevor Smith Jr., surrendered at the 84th precinct in Brooklyn on Tuesday night.
He has been charged with third-degree assault and issued a desk appearance ticket, which mandates his presence in criminal court for arraignment. The investigation remains “ongoing,” according to the spokesperson.
Under New York state law, third-degree assault, categorized as a misdemeanor, involves intentionally causing physical harm, “recklessly causing physical harm,” or “inflicting injury on another using a deadly weapon or dangerous tool.”
YSL News has contacted Busta Rhymes’ representatives for their response.
The charge originates from an incident on January 10, during which a 50-year-old individual was attacked and punched multiple times at the intersection of Jay and Front streets in Brooklyn’s Dumbo area, as reported by Entertainment Weekly and NBC4 New York.
TMZ and the New York Post were among the first to cover this story.
This Grammy-nominated artist, known for the hit “Woo-Hah!! Got You All In Check,” was previously charged with second-degree assault in 2015 for allegedly hurling a protein drink container at a gym worker in Chelsea, Manhattan.
In June 2023, Busta Rhymes received a lifetime achievement award at the BET Awards. He was also set to kick off a 24-date Blockbusta Tour last year, but that was canceled just one week before it was to begin. Prior to that, he had been touring alongside 50 Cent on The Final Lap tour.